Nezam Ghalate, a 55-year-old man who attempted to murder his wife of 25 years by stabbing her 11 times, has died by suicide at HMP Manchester, also known as Strangeways prison. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) published a report detailing his death on June 15, 2024, after an inquest concluded with a suicide verdict.
Attack and Sentencing
Ghalate launched a frenzied attack on his wife in January 2022 at their shared home in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. According to court proceedings, he woke her while she was sleeping, screamed at her, attempted to smother her with a pillow, and then stabbed her 11 times. Originally from Iran, Ghalate had lived in the UK since 2000 with his wife and children. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder, to which he pleaded guilty. A judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Death in Custody
Ghalate was transferred to HMP Manchester in January 2023. The PPO report revealed that upon arrival, reception staff noted he had previously been monitored under suicide prevention procedures, but he denied any current suicidal thoughts or self-harm intentions. Staff described him as cheerful, upbeat, and engaged. However, the report noted that Ghalate often spoke about his children and felt low when unable to contact them, leading him to isolate in his cell.
The day before his death, Ghalate spent most of the day in bed, telling a friend he was tired due to poor sleep. Those who interacted with him reported no signs of increased risk. His body was discovered just after 5 a.m. on June 15, 2024. The clinical reviewer concluded that the physical care at Manchester was of a good standard and equivalent to community care, according to ombudsman Adrian Usher.
Context of Prison Deaths
Ghalate was the seventeenth prisoner to die at HMP Manchester since September 2020. Of those deaths, seven were self-inflicted, six from natural causes, and three from other or drug-related causes. Up to November 2024, there had been one additional self-inflicted death at the prison since Ghalate's death. The report noted no similarities between his death and previous incidents.
